Ship s capstan



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

J. F. HOLLOWAY, 0F SALINE MINES, ILLINOIS.

SHIP S CAPSTAN.

Specification of Letters Patent No. 24,558, dated June 28, 1859.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, J. F. I-IoLLowAY, of Saline Mines, Gallatin county,in the State of Illinois, have invented a new and Improved Capstan forShips or Steamboats; and I do hereby declare the following to be a fulland exact description of the same, reference being had to the annexeddrawn ings, making part of this specification, wherein- Figure l is asectional elevation, showing the capstan in position ready to work; Fig.2 is an elevation, showing the capstan lowered below deck; Fig. 3 is aplan of the gearing.

The object to be obtained by what I claim in my improved capstan, is: soarranging it, that it can be readily lowered below deck and covered overwith a plate, when it is not wanted, thus leaving the deck clear for thepassage or storage of freight, it being well known, that the capstan inmany boats is very much in the way, while freight is being taken on ordischarged. Now to accomplish this result, I have made the followingarrangement:

A is a capstan barrel of the ordinary external shape, B is the head ofthe capstan with holes to receive the capstan bars and made permanentlyfast to the spindle or shaft E, and revolves loosely on the top of A,when the capstan is in gear.

C is an annular ring or plate of metal, fastened to the deck of thevessel and has on its inner, upper edge a bearing against which thebarrel A revolves. Below said bearing are teeth or cogs, also upon theinner surface, into which the pinions F revolve, which pinions areattached to the barrel A, and cause it to revolve also. The teeth in Cserve the additional purpose of a ratchet, into which the pawl G falls,which pawl, being attached to A, holds it from turning backward. Thepinion H is attached to the spindle E by a feather key, by means ofwhich it is driven by said spindle and it being in gear with the pnionsF, and through them with the annular ring C, the barrel A is made torevolve at a slower speed than E and consequently with an increasedpower.

The stand pipe D is permanently fastened to the keelson or cross timberof the boat and has upon its inner surface a double threaded screw cutits entire length, in which screw the bearing step I, having acorresponding screw cut upon its outer surface,

moves up and down, when the capstan is raised or lowered. When thecapstan is in use, the spindle E revolves loosely in the bearing step I,which step is held in its place at the upper end of D by the catch J,which falls into a corresponding notch in I and is held in its place bythe spring K. The coupling L is made to move up and down upon the shaftE, but is prevented from turning on said shaft by a feather key in saidshaft or spindle.

Vhen the capstan is to be lowered, the coupling L is moved down until itconnects with the bearing step I; this step, being by that means made torevolve with the spindle E, moves down in the pipe D, and consequentlylowers the capstan down. In order to raise the capstan up, the motionhas only to be reversed. Then the capstan is lowered down level with thedeck, the ring C is covered with the manhole plate or hatch M, and thedeck left free from obstruction. When the capstan is being raised orlowered, the pinion I-I should be raised up out of gear and will be heldin that position by being partly turned around so as to keep the key outof the key seat.

It must be evident from the foregoing description, that the novelty ofmy invention consists in the arrangement, whereby the capstan can bereadily lowered below deck for the purpose of leaving the deck clear,when it is required for other purposes, and it must also be evident toall ingenious mechanics, that the same result could be accomplished invarious ways, as for instance: the spindle may be made hollow and anupright screw, standing below, may be made to operate within the hollowspindle, or the screws may be put to one side of the capstan, all ofwhich plans would effect what I claim to have invented, viz., theraising and lowering of the capstan bodily for the purpose aforesaid.

Now I do not claim any novelty in the shape of the capstan, nor in themanner of gearing it, when in use, such arrangement of gearing havingbeen used before. But

What I do claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

A capstan, having a vertical movement as well as a rotary one,substantially in the manner and for the purpose specified.

J. F. HCLLOVVAY.

Witnesses:

GEO. ENoL SELLERS, F. I-I. SELLERS.

